Coupling for table tops



Dec. 23, 1924- I V 1,520,518

. W. S. THOMASON I COUPLING FOR TABLE TOPS Filfid Dec. 24, 1923 Zivwemtoz W. S'Tbomcxsow.

nane WILLIAM S. THOMASON, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

COUPLING LOR TABLE TOPS.

Application filed December 24, 1923. Serial No. 682,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. THoMAsoN. a citizen of the United States residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Couplings for Table 'lops, of which the following is a specification, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tables and particularly to what may be termed extension tables in use in hotels and restaurants for banquets and wherein the space between the two ordinary or main tables is bridged by a removable auxiliary table top which is disposed flush with the table tops of the two main tables and forms an extension thereof so that the several tables may be united to form one long table.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel. and effective coupling or supporting device between the table tops which will lock the auxiliary table to the main tables and lock the three table tops to each other a ainst longitudinal or lateral movement and which will furthermore support the auxiliary table top flush with the tops of the main tables, the device being also adapted to couple two main table tops to each other if desirable.

further object is to provide a construction of this character which does not interfere with the use of the main tables by themselves and which will permit the ready attachment of the tables to each other or their detachment from each other.

So another object is to provide a coupling device for this purpose which is very simple, which may be cheaply made, which may be readily put in place and wiich is thoroughly effective for the purpose intended.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of a table formed by combining two main tables with an auxiliary table top;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the joint between the main and an auxiliary table top, showing my coupling device applied thereto;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the coupling members;

Figure Figure 4:

r igure 6 1s a perspective v1ew of the detachable clip which connects the two coupling members.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that in Figure 1 1 have illustrated an elongated or extension table formed of two main tables A. and C and an intermediate or auxiliary table top B which is disposed flush with the table tops A and C of the main tables. These main tables are of a character commonly used at banquets and other functions of like character and each main table has the four downwardly extending legs a connected in any suitable manner to each other and to the table top.

The means which 1 have devised for detachably connecting the table tops to each other comprises a pair of coupling members 10. Each of these coupling members is is a section on the line 55 of formed of relatively thick sheet metal bent to provide an upper web 11, a lower web 12 and a vertical or connecting web 13 extending at right angles to the upper and lower webs. Thus each coupling member is d-shaped in vertical section so as to embrace the corresponding table top, the table top at its edges being countersunk to receive the upper and lower webs 11 and 12. Screws 14 pass through the upper and lower webs and into the table top so as to hold the coupling members engaged therewith. I have illustrated two coupling members as applied to each table top but I do not wish to be limited to this. At the junction of the web 13 with the webs 11 and 12, each web 11 and 12 is longitudinally slotted, as at 141, this slot extending slightly into the web 13 so that the web 13 constitutes a transverse bar. This web 13 inward of the ends of the slots 14; is inwardly pressed at 15 as shown most clearly in Figure 4.

In the use of this device the two table tops A and B, for instance, as illustrated in Figure 2 are brought against each other with the coupling members 10 of each table top in confronting alignment and then the two table tops are locked to each other by means of an approximately S-shaped clip 16 illustrated in detail in Figure 6. This clip is formed to provide a downwardly opening channel 17 upon one face of the clip and an upwardly opening channel 18 on the other face of the clip, these channels being adapted to receive the cross bars or webs 13 of the two coiipl'i'ng members. Inasmuch as the section or table top 13 must be supported by the table tops A and C, it is necessary that the clips should be disposed, as illustrated in Figure 3, with the downwardly opening channel engaging the cross bar or web 13 of the coupling member on the table top A and the cross bar 1-3 of the coupling memberon the table top B resting in the upwardly opening channel. Thus it will be seenthat the table top B is entirely supported bythe four coupling members and their respective clips 16. It will likewise be seen that by deflecting orinwardly bowing the webs 13 a space is left between these webs equal to the thickness of the material from which the s-shaped coupling member 16 is made, and furthermore it will be seen that this S-shaped clip practically locks the coupling niien bers from any lateral movement with relation to each other so that the three table tops are brought into absolute alignment and held inthis position against independent movement. In connecting the three tables to each other the tables A and C are brought into an approximate proper positiom'the clips 16 are disposed in engagenrentwith the cross bars or cross webs 13 of the coupling members on the table tops A and Cand then the table top B is simply lowered into position until the cross bars 13of those coupling members areengaged in the channels 18 of the several clips. This device forms a Very ready means for quickly connecting several tables to each other or several table tops 'to each other as shown. It holds the table tops in perfect alignment so that the table has the appearance, when covered by a cloth, of one long table and it gives ample support 'for the intermediate table top B.

What I claim is r- 1. Means for coupling two table tops together, comprising like confronting coupling members on each top, each coupling member being formed to provide a transversely extending vertically disposed cross bar, and an approximately S -shaped clip independent of and separate from 'the table tops and formed to provide an upwardly opening and a downwardly opening channel and adapted to receive the cross bars in said channels and thereby lock the coupling members to each other. i

2. Means for coupling two table tops together, comprising like confronting coupling members on each top, each coupling member 1 the cross bars of two confronting coupling members.

3. Means for coupling two adjacent table tops to each other comprising a pair of coupling members, each member being U- shaped in cross section to provide an upper web, a lower web and a vertical connecting web, each of said upper and lower webs being transversely slotted at its junction with the vertical web whereby said vertical web constitutes a cross bar, said cross bar being inwardly deflected, and a clip i i-shaped in Cross section to provide a downwardly opening channel and an upwardly opening channel adapted to receive confronting cross bars and lock them to each other.

4t. The combination with two complete table tops, each having unitary legs and an intermediate legless bridging table top, of means disposed on the confronting edges of the first named table top and the second named table top for connecting the table tops to the intermediate table top including two confronting coupling members on the confronting edges of each top and disposed flush with the upper surfaces of the table tops and with the edge surfaces thereof, and a clip adapted to detachably engage with each two confronting coupling members and supporting the intermediate table top, each clip when in place being flush with the upper surfaces of the table tops.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM S. THOMASON. 

